This year, E3 had one of those showing that only happens once every 8-10 years. E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, is the biggest video game conference in the world, and it's where game publishers show off what they're working on. E3 2014 was unique because it was the first one after the release of two major consoles--the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4. Developers got to show for the first time full portfolios dedicated to the new hardware, and it was glorious. There was a lot to see during both the Microsoft Xbox and Sony PlayStation media briefings, and Nintendo surprised many with game announcements of its own. I figured I'd whittle things down and share the ten games I was most excited about, in no particular order.

The summer months can bring drought conditions in many areas across the world, but as any hardcore gamer will tell you, the gaming industry suffers the same condition each year. It's even tougher in years like 2014, where two major consoles just launched and early adopters are clamoring for new software for their pricey investments.

While I can't do anything about the lack of new games that are set to drop this summer, I can certainly help you get through it. Over the next two months, right before summer hits, we are going to see a few high profile games released that we think will dull the summer gaming blues. Some are old favorites, while a couple are brand new IP that look to offer unique gaming experiences. Here's my list of the five games to pick up this summer, in order of release date:

Hey Wii U owners, if you're looking to round out your Mario-themed Wii Remote collection, the new Princess Peach Wii Remote Plus is set to hit stores next week. As you can see, the Peach Wiimote is pink on the front, with a darker pink on back, with a gold D-pad, white A button, and blue accents with the Peach logo. It matches up nicely with the Mario and Luigi Wii Remotes that were previously released, and has us wondering where the heck the Toad version is. You can grab the Peach Wii Remote Plus on April 24th for $40.

Nintendo has announced the Super Smash Bros. is coming to the Nintendo 3DS this summer, and Wii U later this winter. Both versions will heavily promote online play with friends through Nintendo's Miiverse, as well as through random matches with other players.

Nintendo also says it will monitor the behavior of online players, and will punish those who are a hindrance to others, including those who leave matches early, bully others, cheat, etc. Skill-based matchmaking will also be incorporated to keep things fair and fun.

The Nintendo 3DS version in particular will feature a new mode called Smash Run where up to four players get five minutes to team up and beat up enemies in exchange for power-ups. After five minutes is up, those power-ups are put into play, as the players engage in a battle against each other.

No specific release dates were given for either version of the game, but we'll likely get that information in a couple of months at E3.

We know, the Wii U has been taking a beating in recent weeks in the press--but Mario Kart 8 is fast approaching, arguably just the second AAA title that will be available for the struggling console (with the first being the magnificent Super Mario 3D World.) While the release date isn't as close as we'd like it to be--we really enjoy throwing those red shells, after all--it's close enough. You'll be able to get your hands on the next home console installment of Mario Kart in May.

That's as solid a date as we've been given from Nintendo President Satoru Iwata, but once we get the exact date, we'll update you guys to let you know when you can get your Mario Kart 8 on. Now, if only Nintendo would finally fix their jumbled online multiplayer...

Since no one is buying the Wii U, Nintendo is slashing the price of the Deluxe set as a form of damage control before the Xbox One and Playstation 4 launch in a couple of months. The $50 price drop brings the Wii U Deluxe set down to $299.99, making it $100 cheaper than the PS4 and $200 cheaper than the Xbox One. Of course, the problem with the Wii U is more than just the price--there aren't many fantastic games for the console, and third-party developer support has been abysmal. Until that changes, or until Nintendo finally releases some of their big AAA titles, Wii U is going to flounder in obscurity as an underpowered console with no good games to play.

If you wanna see somethingn totally insane, check out this video of Cosmo Wright beating The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time in under 25 minutes. Wright uses a bunch of glitches found in the game to skip through major portions, but it's impressive nonetheless to see the holes in the game that make such a feat possible in the first place. Check out the full video after the jump.

Nintendo has finally announced that it will be releasing an all black Nintendo 3DS XL. The black version will hit stores on August 11th, which just so happens to be the same day that Mario & Luigi: Dream Team drops as well. If you've been holding out for black because you were too grown-up to rock the blue, red, pink, Pokemon, or Animal Crossing variants, you'll have your wish in about two weeks--and you can pre-order the black Nintendo 3DS XL now.

You know that Wii U system update that is supposed to speed up the console by a pretty big margin this summer? Well, in yet another misstep for Nintendo's latest home console, that update will not be arriving until the fall. Specifically, Wii U owners will be waiting until sometime "between the end of September and the beginning of October." There will still be a system update, but it will be a much less significant patch that simply addresses small stability issues and the standby download feature. The speed update was first announced in January, but we guess it isn't much of a surprise that Wii U owners are stuck waiting. Again.

Nintendo has announced that the next verion of Mario Kart is set for a spring 2014 release. Mario Kart 8 will be released on the Wii U, bringing new 3D effects and anti-gravity racing to Nintendo's struggling home console. Expect things like underwater racing, air gliging, motorcycles, and more. Nintendo even says that Miiverse will be deeply integrated into the title. Jump past the break for a look at the official trailer out of E3.